Electronic short messaging and advertising method and device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an electronic short messaging and advertising method where minimal initiative is required from the consumer. Some embodiments of the invention may also be applied to an electronic sales method. The invention may also be applied for normal short messaging. The electronic short messaging method for collect calling may send transmissions to at least one subscriber terminal via the Internet and/or the telephony network. The method may include sending a first transmission to a recipient subscriber terminal for display, wherein the first transmission defines one or more active alternatives including at least one of initiating a collect call and deleting the transmission. In some embodiments, unless the collect call is initiated, the first transmission is automatically deleted after reception after a predefined time period.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.. No.12/401,091 filed Mar. 10, 2009 entitled ELECTRONIC SHORT MESSAGING ANDADVERTISING METHOD AND DEVICE, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser.. No. 11/979,141 filed Oct. 31, 2007 entitled ELECTRONICSHORT MESSAGING AND ADVERTISING METHOD AND MEANS, which is a division ofU.S. application Ser. No. 10/416,228 filed Oct. 20, 2003 entitledELECTRONIC SHORT MESSAGING AND ADVERTISING METHOD AND MEANS now issuedU.S. Pat. No. 7,369,864 issued on May 6, 2008, which is a national stageentry of PCT/FI01/00967 filed Nov. 7, 2001, each of which areincorporated herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electronic short messaging method and means,suitable, for example, for advertising. In particular the inventionrelates to an electronic advertising method including a collect callingfeature, where minimal initiative is required from the consumer. Someembodiments of the invention may also be applied to an electronic salesmethod. The invention may be also applied for normal short messaging.

In the related art, electronic advertising methods advertisements aretypically delivered by email or SMS messages. Emails may containhyperlinks to advertising sites. SMS messages may contain telephonenumbers of advertisers.

The related art has several disadvantages. The response to both types ofadvertisements requires active participation from the consumer. Ahyperlink needs to be identified and clicked. A telephone number needsto be entered to a mobile station by copying it from the SMS message orby entering it manually. The SMS advertiser typically wants to becontacted by telephone, because the user holds a telephone. The emailadvertiser wants the user to visit a URL address, because the user isusing a computer.

The purpose of the invention is to remove the aforementioneddisadvantages. The invention requires zero initiative from the user torespond to a short message or an advertisement. Whether theadvertisement is communicated by SMS or email makes no difference to thereferral.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Most or all of the aforementioned advantages of the invention areimplemented with exemplary embodiments of the invention, in which amessage, like an email or an SMS message is sent to a subscriberterminal. Preferably, software on the subscriber terminal recognizes thearrival of the email or SMS-message from a unique identifier. A part ofthe message displaying an advertisement is displayed to the screen ofthe subscriber terminal, like “New Pirelli tires 100 dollars, interestedYes/No?” By pressing a dedicated key for “No” the message is deleted andthe screen returns to the normal state. By pressing a dedicated key for“Yes” the subscriber terminal connects to an IP-address or an URL wherethe advertising is continued by displaying web pages, video and/or audiodepicting the advertisement. Alternatively the subscriber terminal dialsa telephone number to a sales representative. The subscriber terminalmay also form a packet switched real time communication connection to asales representative through the Internet.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic shortmessaging method for collect calling by sending transmissions to atleast one subscriber terminal via the Internet and/or the telephonynetwork. The method may include sending a first transmission to arecipient subscriber terminal for display, wherein the firsttransmission defines one or more active alternatives including at leastone of initiating a collect call and deleting the transmission. In someembodiments, unless the collect call is initiated, the firsttransmission is automatically deleted after reception after a predefinedtime period.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first transmission defines automaticdeletion after a predefined time period after reception unless one ofthe active alternatives is selected.

In another exemplary embodiment, after a predefined period, a secondtransmission is sent to the recipient subscriber terminal unless thefirst alternative is selected, said second transmission removing thefirst transmission from display.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electronicshort messaging device for collect calling. The electronic short messagedevice may comprise: a transmitter and receiver structured tocommunicate using at least one of a packet switched connection andtelephony network connection; at least one display device; and aprocessor structured to identify incoming transmissions and process thetransmissions for displaying at least a part of the content of thetransmission on the display device directly or at predeterminedintervals, wherein the processor is further structured to process afirst transmission of the transmissions, the first transmission definingone or more active alternatives including at least one of initiating acollect call and deleting the transmission, wherein unless the collectcall is initiated, the first transmission is automatically deleted afterreception after a predefined time period.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide acomputer readable medium for collect calling, the computer readablemedium including computer-executable instructions, the instructions for:A computer readable medium for collect calling, the computer readablemedium including instructions executable by a computer, the instructionsfor sending a first transmission as a request for a collect call to arecipient subscriber terminal for display on said recipient subscriberterminal. It is still another object of the present invention to providea computer readable medium for collect calling, the computer readablemedium including computer-executable instructions, the instructions for:sending a first transmission as a request for a collect call to arecipient subscriber terminal for display on said recipient subscriberterminal.

In an exemplary embodiment, the computer readable medium may furtherinclude instructions for receiving a second transmission that isassociated with the first transmission, wherein the second transmissionincludes attributes including at least one of further actions toinitiate the collect call and a state of the first transmission.

In another exemplary embodiment of the computer readable medium, thefurther actions include connecting to at least one of a telephonenumber, an IP-address, and a URL related to the collect call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail withreference to exemplary embodiments in accordance with the accompanyingdrawings, in which

FIG. 1 presents one exemplary embodiment of the invention as a flowdiagram.

FIG. 2 presents a more general embodiment of the invention as a flowdiagram.

FIG. 3 presents a more developed embodiment of the invention as a flowdiagram.

FIG. 4 presents a more developed embodiment of the invention as a flowdiagram.

FIG. 5 presents a preferable embodiment of the inventive advertisingmeans.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In phase 110 of FIG. 1 a message is sent to the recipient subscriberterminal typically by SMS (Short Message Service), SMS containing abitmap, MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) or email. In some preferableembodiments, the subscriber terminal is typically a PC computer, AppleMacintosh computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a UMTS-, GSM-,WAP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-, GPS- and/or WCDMAmobile station. Typically in some preferable embodiments, the subscriberterminal is a device using either the Microsoft Windows, Windows NT,Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm OS or the Epoc operatingsystem. In many preferable embodiments several default facilities of theoperating system are used to realize the inventive method.

In some preferable embodiments all messages may be delivered to the sameinbox. The recipient views the message from the inbox. The message willcontain a referral like “Pirelli tyres 100$, interested Y/N?, if yesplease press X.” Once the user presses X, or any other dedicated keydepicted by the message, he is connected to the original sender of themessage in phase 140. If he does something else, or nothing for sometime, the message may be deleted or postponed.

In some mobile device, there is a pair of key buttons for selecting thebioptional alternatives the normal operation of the mobile deviceinvolves. For example mobile telephones or PDAs have this kind of keybutton pairs. This pair of keys is advantageously used for selecting thebioptional alternatives of messages in accordance with the invention.

A telephone connection may be formed automatically on the basis of theCaller ID. In some embodiments a hyperlink, IP address and/or URLaddress of the sender may be designated in the message and thuscontacted through the Internet in accordance with the inventive method.In some preferable embodiments of the invention a pop-up function isdefined in the message. Once the message is received it is instantlypopped up on the subscriber terminal screen. For example in a smartphonecontaining two displays, like the Nokia Communicator, the message orsome parts of it is popped up on both or either displays. In a PC, themessage is popped on the screen once the messages have been downloaded.In a GSM mobile station the message or some parts of it are displayed inplace of the operator or cell logo or both. In both preferableembodiments typically software is required to identify the message, andpop it on the screen. In some preferable embodiments the software isable to identify embedded phone numbers, IP-addresses and/or URLaddresses. Once “Yes” for the message is indicated, this aforementionedembedded directory information is read from the message and transferredto the communications part of the subscriber terminal.

After the user has been connected to the sender, he views, listens toand/or registers for proceedings in phase 150. In some preferableembodiments the proceedings may be a further advertisement on a webpage, an audio and/or video presentation, a conversation with a salesrepresentative and/or a registration for the receipt of furtherinformation later by post, telephone, SMS and/or email.

In some preferable embodiments this is used to automate collect calls.If a person sends a message of the type: “Please call me Y/N?”, therecipient may launch a collect call by one press of a dedicated key. Inthese preferable embodiments the arrival of the message typicallylaunches a ring tone.

In some embodiments the method 10 is realized in a GSM network bysending a message in place of the operator logo on the terminal display.Alternatively SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast), USSD (Unstructured SupplementaryService Data), PDS (Packet Data on Signaling Channels) or WAPPush may beused to display the message directly on the screen. This message maycontain instructions on an action to be taken if the logical response ofthe user is “Yes”, for example it may contain a telephone number towhich the user is connected, or it may trigger an SMS message from theuser or a request for an SMS from the network or sender by USSD, SMS, orthe like. A further message, linked to the original message of SMS,USSD, SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast) may be sent with the original message tocontain these instructions in some embodiments.

Upon any stage the network may also destroy or change the said messageby sending another message. In one embodiment, for example if theposition of the user changes, the HLR/VLR (Home/Visitor LocationRegister) or an external location server may prompt the network or anexternal messaging server to send a new message to update the message onthe terminal screen, or to delete the message on the terminal screen. Anecessary change of position may be for example leaving or entering acell.

In FIG. 2 the message is sent to the recipient subscriber terminal inphase 210. The recipient views the message in phase 220. In addition toSMS or email, the message can be delivered by FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP,UDP or by some other direct transfer protocol, and a “pop-up” softwarerecognizes the said transmissions or messages at the subscriberterminal.

In phase 230 the message provides the user with the option to proceedwith further information related to the referral like “Pirelli tyres100$, interested Y/N? Please press Y to proceed!” If the user chooses topress the designated key, Y in this case, he is connected to a thirdparty designated by the message in phase 240.

If he does something else or nothing for some time, the process isterminated and the message is deleted or postponed. In some preferableembodiments this is done by moving the message to the “Recycle bin” ofthe operating system of the subscriber terminal.

If the user chooses “Yes” by pressing a dedicated key or otherwise, heis connected to a third party designated by the message in phase 240.The message may have embedded phone numbers, IP-addresses,URL-addresses, ISDN-, FTP-, email-, SIP (Session InitiationProtocol)-addresses and/or other electronic directories to which theuser is connected in some preferable embodiments.

After the user has been connected to the third party, he views, listensto, downloads, uploads and/or registers for proceedings in phase 250. Insome preferable embodiments the proceedings may be a furtheradvertisement on a web page, an audio and/or a video presentation, aconversation with a sales representative and/or a registration for thereceival of further information later by post, telephone, SMS and/oremail or a registration to a customer database for monitoring purposes.

In some embodiments the method 20 is realized in a cellular network bysending a message in place of the operator logo on the terminal display.Alternatively SMS-CB (Cell Broadcast), USSD, PDS (Packet Data onSignaling Channels) or WAPPush may be used to display the messagedirectly on the screen. This message may contain instructions on anaction to be taken if the logical response of the user is “Yes”, forexample it may contain a telephone number to which the user isconnected, or it may trigger an SMS message from the user or a requestfor an SMS from the network or sender by USSD, SMS, or the like. Afurther message, linked to the original message of SMS, USSD, SMS-CB(Cell Broadcast) may be sent with the original message to contain theseinstructions in some embodiments. In some embodiments this furthermessage precedes the actual message and initializes the device todisplay the message directly on the screen. Typically a secondtransmission is sent and received and associated with the firsttransmission, depicting attributes related to user input, furtheractions and/or state of the first transmission or any other attributesor instructions.

Upon any stage the network may also destroy or change the said messageby sending another message. In one embodiment, for example if theposition of the user changes, the HLR/VLR (Home/Visitor LocationRegister) or an external location server may prompt the network or anexternal messaging server to send a new message to update the message onthe terminal screen, or to delete the message on the terminal screen. Anecessary change of position may be for example leaving or entering acell.

Especially when the first message is a USSD message, it is typical thatthe network, MSC, or an external server contains an USSD managementapplication that administers the display, change and connection and/orresponse parameters of the messages on the user terminal displays.

In one embodiment the GSM terminal has dedicated software installed torun and administer the process of displaying messages. In one embodimentthis software is realized as SIM Application Toolkit software on the SIMcard of the mobile terminal, in another alternative embodiment it couldbe realized with a WAP-browser. This software recognizes messages, forexample SMS, SMS-CB, USSD, PDS or WAPPush messages that are sent to theterminal, and displays the bioptional messages to the user on thedisplay. The recognition is typically done from a unique identifierassociated with the message, for example in the header of the message.In some embodiments an initialization message preceding the actualmessage may be used to set the terminal and associated software to astate where the incoming message(s) is displayed on the screen. If theuser takes a dedicated action logically “Yes”, the software willadminister the proceedings.

In phase 310 of FIG. 3 a transmission is sent to a recipient. Thetransmission may be a discrete message, but it may also be a continuoustransmission and/or a real time transmission. Typically transmissions ofthis sort are realized by GPRS-, UMTS-FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP or bysome other direct data transfer protocol, and the said transmissionsand/or messages are recognized at the subscriber terminal. Thetransmission may be a dynamic stream of e.g. IP-packets, or packets ofany other protocol, and the reading and viewing of some of the packetsmay be begun even before the whole transmission has been received insome embodiments. In phase 320 the recipient views the transmission orsome displayed parts of the transmission. In phase 330 the transmissionor some parts of it are arranged to ask the recipient whether to proceedwith further information. In some preferable embodiments, the user maybe promised money for viewing the advert. In some embodiments themessage is of the type: “New product X, interested Y/N? The phonebill/download is on us!” In some preferable embodiments, the message maybe of the type: “New product X for 100$, interested Y/N? You get 1$ forviewing the advert!”

If “NO” the process is terminated and the message and/or transmission orsome of its parts are deleted in phase 335. If “YES” the subscriberterminal automatically connects to a third party designated by themessage. Any electronic address may be embedded in the transmission, insome preferable embodiments.

In phase 350 the bits transmitted and/or received and/or connectedminutes are calculated. The calculation may be done by software at thesubscriber terminal or in the network or both.

After the user has been connected to the third party, he views, listensto, downloads, uploads and/or registers for proceedings in phase 360. Insome preferable embodiments the proceedings may be a furtheradvertisement on a web page, an audio and/or a video presentation, aconversation with a sales representative and/or a registration for thereceival of further information later by post, telephone, SMS and/oremail or a registration to a customer database for monitoring purposes.

In some preferable embodiments, the phases 350 and 360 overlap or areconducted simultaneously.

In phase 365, money can be refunded to the recipient on the basis ofbits transmitted and/or received and/or connected minutes. In somepreferable embodiments, the amount of refund is based on the promise inthe original message. In some preferable embodiments the refund is madeto the phone bill of the recipient. In some preferable embodiments acheque is posted to the owner of the subscriber terminal. In somepreferable embodiments, the user is given a discount on the price,monthly fee, and/or per minute and/or per bit rate if the user acceptsto receive adverts on a continuous basis.

Same options for deleting or updating transmission streams orassociating transmission streams with each other exist as with discretemessages in accordance with the invention.

In the phase 410 of FIG. 4 a message is sent to a recipient. Therecipient views the message in phase 420. In phase 430 the message askswhether the recipient wishes to proceed with the proposal. In somepreferable embodiments the proposal may be of the form: “A single byBeatles, “Yesterday” 50 cents, Interested Y/N?” In some preferableembodiments the item to be sold is any data file, like a softwareprogram, movie in digital format, music in digital format, map indigital format, and/or any other document in digital format.

If “NO” the process is terminated and the message is deleted in phase335. If “YES” the subscriber terminal automatically connects to a thirdparty designated by the message. Any electronic address may be embeddedin the message, in some preferable embodiments.

After the user has been connected to the third party, he views, listensto, downloads, uploads and/or registers for proceedings in phase 450.

In phase 460 the bits transmitted and/or received and/or connectedminutes are calculated. The calculation may be done by a software at thesubscriber terminal or in the network or both.

In phase 465, money can be charged from the recipient on the basis ofbits transmitted and/or received and/or connected minutes. In somepreferable embodiments, the charge is based on the price in the originalmessage. In some preferable embodiments the charge is added to the phonebill of the recipient. In some preferable embodiments a bill is postedto the owner of the subscriber terminal. In some preferable embodimentsthe credit card numbers are automatically exchanged and the account isautomatically debited to complete the purchase. In some preferableembodiments the credit card number of the subscriber is requested in aseparate step of the proceedings.

In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a mobilestation, and the message is an SMS message. In some of these preferableembodiments the said message or some parts of the said message aredisplayed in the telephony network operator logo, and/or the networkcell logo. In these embodiments the subscriber terminal is typically aGSM mobile station.

In many embodiments of the described inventive methods permutations ofphases are possible and in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 5 presents a preferable embodiment of the subscriber terminal inaccordance with the invention. The subscriber terminal is typically a PCcomputer, Apple Macintosh computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)or a UMTS-, GSM-, WAP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-,and/or WCDMA mobile station. Typically in some preferable embodiments,the subscriber terminal is a device using either the Microsoft Windows,Windows NT, Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm OS or the Epocoperating system. In many preferable embodiments several defaultfacilities of the operating system are used to realize the inventiveadvertising means.

In some preferable embodiments the inventive subscriber terminal 500comprises at least one packet switched connection 510 and/or telephonynetwork connection 520, a display 550, at least one message inbox 540and associated software 530.

The associated software 530 is arranged to recognize messages from theinbox 540. In some preferable embodiments of the invention there is asingle inbox for SMS-messages, voicemail and emails. This is especiallythe case with inventive subscriber terminals running the Epoc operatingsystem. However, the associated software 530 can monitor several inboxeson the subscriber terminal or in the telephony network or the Internet.

In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a PC computer,Apple Macintosh computer and/or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Inthese preferable embodiments the pop-up software typically monitors theemail inbox of the user on a server on the Internet or the inbox on thesubscriber terminal or both. When a special email is sent to the inbox540, it contains an identifying element that the pop-up software 530 canrecognize. Once this identifying element is recognized, the message orsome parts of it is popped to the monitor 550. In some preferableembodiments the message is displayed on the desktop of the computer. Themessage may read for example: “Pirelli tires 100$, interested Y/N?” Insome preferable embodiments the user presses Y to connect to the partyfor further proceedings. If he presses N, or some other key, or doesnothing for a predefined time, the message disappears and is deleted.

In some preferable embodiments the message is not delivered by email,but MMS is used instead. In some preferable embodiments it may bedelivered directly to the subscriber terminal by FTP, TCP/IP, H323,HTTP, UDP or by some other direct transfer protocol, and the pop-upsoftware recognizes the said transmissions. In these embodiments theinbox is preferably not needed.

In all or some of the embodiments the display of the advert may beenhanced by audio and/or video by the audio/video devices 590. In somepreferable embodiments, the message is not deleted, but stored to thestorage means 560. The storage means may be a hard drive, CD-ROM,computer disk, computer memory or any other electromagnetic storagemeans. In some preferable embodiments this is done by moving the messageand/or transmission to the “Recycle Bin” of the operating system.

In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a WID(Wireless Information Device) that runs Epoc, Windows CE, Palm OS, GEOS,and/or Windows Pocket PC operating system. In some preferableembodiments the message and/or the transmission is delivered by MMS,SMS, email, by FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP or by some other direct datatransfer protocol, and the pop-up software recognises the saidtransmissions and/or messages. In some preferable embodiments themessage or some parts of it are shown on at least one display of thesmartphone by the pop-up software 530. In some preferable embodimentsthe pop-up software 530 is arranged to use several application enginesof the operating system. For example in Epoc, the pop-up software mayintroduce a completely new messaging subsystem. In some preferableembodiments this is done simply by registering additional MTMs (MessageTransfer Module). In Epoc, the MTMs are introduced by the Epoc Emailapp, which is arranged to support Internet mail SMTP, POP3, IMAP4, faxand SMS.

In some preferable embodiments there is at least one special MTM, whichrecognises the messages that should be popped to the display. In somepreferable embodiments the messages are not necessarily adverts, but canbe messages of any type.

Typically smartphones have one phone display and one computer display.In some preferable embodiments the message or some parts of it aredisplayed in place of the telephony network operator logo, and/or thenetwork cell logo, on the telephony display and/or on the computerdisplay.

If the user is uninterested of the message, he may destroy it bypressing a key or by doing nothing for a predefined period. Once thisoption is realized the message is typically deleted and/or moved to the“Recycling bin.”

The message typically embeds an electronic address, which can becontacted by a dedicated key if proceedings are desired. In somepreferable Epoc embodiments of the invention several applicationengines, dial up, NIFMAN, Internet protocols like PPP or other, and/orWeb app are used automatically to realize the communications connectionto the said third party.

In some preferable embodiments the subscriber terminal is a GSM mobilestation. In these preferable embodiments the inbox 540 is typically aSMS inbox. The pop-up software 530 is embedded in the code of the mobilestation. Once the message, typically an SMS message, or transmission,typically a DTMF-tone or a FTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP, UDP or some otherdirect transfer protocol transmission via GSM data, is received themessage or some parts of it are displayed on the display 550. In somepreferable embodiments the message or some parts of it are displayed inplace of the telephony network operator logo, and/or the network celllogo.

The message may read for example: “Pirelli tyres 100$, interested Y/N?”In some preferable embodiments the user presses Y to connect to theparty for further proceedings. If he presses N, or some other key, ordoes nothing for a predefined time, the message disappears and isdeleted. In some embodiments indications may be changed, for examplepressing # may indicate “Yes” in some preferable embodiments.

Once “Yes” has been indicated the subscriber terminal will dial a numberembedded in the message, or open a data connection, like GSM-data to anIP address, URL address or any other electronic address.

In many of the presented embodiments after the user has been connectedto the party designated in the message, he views, listens to and/orregisters for proceedings. The party may be for example the caller, andcontact can be made on the basis of Caller ID in some preferableembodiments. In some preferable embodiments the proceedings may be afurther advertisement on a web page, an audio and/or video presentation,a conversation with a sales representative and/or a registration for thereceival of further information later by post, telephone, SMS and/oremail.

In some preferable embodiments, the subscriber terminal is arranged toplay a sound, a beep and/or ring tone for example, upon arrival of themessage and/or transmission. In some preferable embodiments, the messageand/or transmission may contain a ringtone, and/or a WAV- and/or anMP3-file, which is played at the recipient subscriber terminal.Alternatively in some embodiments the transmission may be arranged totrigger the playing of a particular file.

In some preferable embodiments, the users can decline to accept incomingmessages by a dedicated action that sends a signal to the network. Insome preferable embodiments this disables all or some parts of theinformation exchange between the Home Location Register of the cellularnetwork and third parties. In some preferable embodiments the user mayinvite incoming messages by enabling the network to transmit informationfrom the Home Location Register to third parties. In many preferableembodiments enabling and disabling are done by a dedicated signalrecognized by the network. In some preferable embodiments the signal isan email, SMS and/or an MMS message and/or a transmission delivered byFTP, TCP/IP, H323, HTTP and/or UDP and/or the transmission is a DTMFtone or a phone call.

The invention has been explained above with reference to theaforementioned embodiments and several commercial and industrialadvantages of the invention have been demonstrated. With the method inaccordance with the invention the recipient can receive advertisementsor other short messages with the shortest manipulation time possible. Nonavigation, browsing of inboxes, copying and/or pasting of telephonenumbers needs to be done. The user is shown the message automatically,and he may delete it or receive further information on it with onesingle press of a dedicated key.

The invention has been explained above with reference to theaforementioned embodiments. However, it is clear that the invention isnot only restricted to these embodiments, but comprises all possibleembodiments within the spirit and scope of the inventive thought and thefollowing patent claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving a firsttransmission at a terminal, said first transmission defining twoalternatives: (i) a first alternative for further action and (ii) asecond alternative for deleting the transmission, wherein unless thefirst alternative is selected said first transmission automaticallydeletes after reception after a predefined time period; and when thefirst alternative is selected, connecting the terminal to a terminalsending the first transmission.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising sending a second transmission that includes attributesrelated to at least one of: (i) user input, (ii) further actions and(iii) a state of the first transmission, wherein the second transmissionis associated with the first transmission.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein the further actions includes at least one of: (i) connecting toa telephone number, IP-address, URL, or the like directory, (ii) sendinga further subscriber originated message, (iii) requesting a call, (iv)requesting a call back to the message sender, and (v) registering forfurther information.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one ofthe terminal sending the first transmission and the terminal receivingthe first transmission is one of a: (i) PC computer, (ii) AppleMacintosh computer, (iii) PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), (iv) UMTS-,GSM-, WAP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-, GPRS-, CDMA-, or WCDMAmobile station, and (v) a device using the Microsoft Windows, WindowsNT, Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, Palm OS or the Epoc operatingsystem.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein bits transmitted or receivedand connected minutes are calculated, and the calculation is performedby at least one of: software at the terminal sending the firsttransmission, software at the terminal receiving the first transmission,and in the network.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein money is chargedor refunded to a recipient receiving the first transmission at theterminal on a basis of at least one of: bits transmitted, bits received,connected minutes, price, and promise in the first transmission.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first transmission is one of a MMS-,SMS-, SMS CB-, USSD-, PDS-, WAPPush message or an email, and is embeddedwith at least one phone number, IP-address, URL-addresses and/or otherelectronic directories to which the terminal is arranged to beconnected.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmission isone of a MMS-, SMS transmission, email, DTMF-tone or a FTP, TCP/IP,H323, HTTP, UDP data transfer or some other direct data transfer and isembedded with at least one phone number, IP-address, URL-address, ISDN-,FTP-, email-, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol)-address(es) and/or otherelectronic directories to which the terminal is arranged to beconnected.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selection of one of thefirst alternative and the second alternative is indicated by pressing adedicated key on the terminal.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein thefirst transmission or at least a part of the first transmission aredisplayed in place of a telephony network operator logo or a networkcell logo.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first transmission orat least a part of the first transmission pop up on at least one displayof the terminal instantly or within a defined period upon arrival to theterminal.
 12. A device, comprising: means for communicating, using atleast one packet switched connection or telephony network connection, atleast one display, and associated software configured to identifyincoming transmissions and display the content or at least one part ofthe content to the display directly or at predetermined intervals, firstones of the incoming transmissions defining two alternatives: a firstalternative for further action and a second alternative for deleting therespective first incoming transmission; wherein unless the firstalternative for further action is selected the associated software isconfigured to automatically delete the respective first incomingtransmission after a predefined time period after reception; and whenthe first alternative is selected, the associated software is furtherconfigured to connect the device to a device of the sender of the firstones of the incoming transmissions.
 13. The device according to claim12, wherein the associated software is a SIM Application Toolkit on theSIM card of the device.
 14. The device according to claim 12, wherein atleast one of the device that receives the incoming transmission and thedevice that sends the incoming transmission is one of a: (i) PCcomputer, (ii) Apple Macintosh computer, (iii) PDA (Personal DigitalAssistant), (iv) UMTS-, GSM-, WAP-, Teldesic-, Inmarsat-, Iridium-,GPRS-, CDMA-, or WCDMA mobile station, and (v) a device using theMicrosoft Windows, Windows NT, Windows CE, Windows Pocket PC, GEOS, PalmOS or the Epoc operating system.
 15. The device according to claim 12,wherein the first incoming transmission is one of a MMS-, SMS message oran email, and is embedded with at least one phone number, IP-address,URL-address, ISDN-, FTP-, email-, SIP-address(es), or other electronicdirectories to which the user is arranged to be connected by a dedicatedaction.
 16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising asoftware program, wherein the software program is configured to cause aprocessor to: recognize a first transmission; display a message in thefirst transmission on the terminal display, the message defining twoalternatives, a first alternative for further action and a secondalternative for deleting the first transmission; in response toselection of the first alternative by a user, connect to an originalsender of the first transmission; and remove the first transmission fromdisplay after reception after a predefined time period.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein thesoftware program is at least one of a SIM Application Toolkit on a SIMcard of a mobile terminal, a USSD application on a network.
 18. Amethod, comprising: receiving a first transmission at a terminal fordisplay, said first transmission defining two alternatives, a firstalternative for further action and a second alternative for deleting thetransmission; and when the first alternative is selected, connecting therecipient subscriber to a sender terminal of the first transmission,wherein, unless the first alternative is selected, deleting said firsttransmission after a predefined time period.